Uk Child Car Seat Laws: A Historical Safety Overview

Child car seats are a legal requirement in the UK. The law states that children must use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first. Children over the age of 12 or more than 135 cm tall must wear a seat belt. The rules can be confusing, and there are various exceptions and special cases to consider, such as when travelling in taxis or vans, or when there are more than two children in the back seat.

Child car seat laws in the UK

Child car seats are a legal requirement in the UK. However, the rules can be confusing, and road safety laws have been updated over the years. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you understand the latest rules and keep your child safe.

When to Use a Child Car Seat

UK law dictates that a child must use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first. Children over 12 years old or taller than 135 cm must wear a seat belt. It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that children under 14 years old use an appropriate child restraint or wear their seat belt.

Types of Child Car Seats

There are two main types of child car seats: height-based and weight-based.

Height-Based Car Seats

Height-based car seats are known as "i-Size" seats. They must be rear-facing until the child is over 15 months old. i-Size seats must use ISOFIX connectors, although some can also be installed using the car's adult seat belt. i-Size seats are mandatory for babies and must be used in an i-Size-certified car or a vehicle with ISOFIX.

Weight-Based Car Seats

Weight-based car seats are split into groups according to the weight of the child, with options ranging from 0kg to 10kg or 13kg, 9kg to 18kg, 15kg to 25kg, and 22kg to 36kg. It is against the law to put your child in a seat that is inappropriate for their weight.

Exceptions to the Child Car Seat Law

There are a few exceptions to the child car seat law in specific situations.

No Room for a Third Child Seat in the Back

If there is no room for a third child seat in the back, a child under 135 cm or younger than 12 years old can sit in the front seat with the correct child seat. Children aged three or older can use the front seat with an appropriate seat or sit in the back using an adult seat belt.

Unexpected but Necessary Short Journeys

If you need to make an unexpected but necessary short journey and don't have the correct child seat, a child over three years old can use an adult seat belt. This does not apply to planned trips or journeys that could have been planned, such as the school run.

Licensed Taxis, Minicabs, and Vans

In licensed taxis, minicabs, and private hire vehicles, children under three years old can travel without a child car seat or seat belt, but only on a rear seat. Children aged three or older can travel in the rear without a child car seat if they wear an adult seat belt. In vans, the rules are the same as for cars.

Choosing and Installing a Child Car Seat

When choosing a child car seat, it is essential to select one that conforms to the United Nations standard, R129 (for i-Size seats) or ECE Regulation 44/03 or ECE 44/04. The seat should also be suitable for the child's weight, size, or height and correctly fitted according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Child car seats must be installed using ISOFIX mountings or a diagonal seat belt strap. It is important to deactivate any front airbags before fitting a rear-facing baby seat in the front seat and never fit a child car seat in side-facing seats.

Penalties for Breaking the Law

The consequences of ignoring the legal requirements can be severe. Police can administer an on-the-spot fine of up to £500 if the case is referred to court.

Additional Considerations

It is important to note that only EU-approved child car seats can be used in the UK, and these seats cannot be used in some other countries. Additionally, safety experts recommend using a child car seat for all children under 150 cm tall, as this is the legal requirement in some other European countries.

Height-based vs weight-based car seats

In the UK, child car seats became a legal requirement in 2006. The law states that children must use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first. Children over the age of 12 or more than 135 cm tall must wear a seat belt.

When it comes to choosing a car seat, there are two main types: height-based and weight-based. Here is a comparison between the two:

Height-based car seats

Height-based car seats, also known as i-Size seats, are classified into different height groups:

• I-Size baby: 40 cm to 87 cm (from birth to around 15 or 18 months)
• I-Size baby to toddler: 40 cm to 105 cm (from birth to 4 years)
• I-Size toddler to child: 61 cm to 105 cm (from 12 months to 4 years)
• I-Size baby to child: 40 cm to 150 cm (from birth to 12 years)
• I-Size child: 100 cm to 150 cm (from 4 years to 12 years)

I-Size seats must be rear-facing until the child is over 15 months old. After that, they can use a forward-facing child car seat. These seats must comply with the R129 regulation and can only be used with ISOFIX mountings. This regulation includes a side-impact crash test as part of the approval process, which is not required for weight-based seats.

Weight-based car seats

Weight-based car seats are classified into different weight groups:

• Group 0/0+: Newborn to 13 kg (from birth to 15 months)
• Group 0+/1: Newborn to 18 kg (from birth to around 4 years)
• Group 0+/1/2: Newborn to 25 kg (from birth to around 7 years)
• Group 0+/1/2/3: Newborn to 36 kg (from birth to around 12 years)
• Group 1: 9 kg to 18 kg (from 9 months to 4 years)
• Group 1/2/3: 9 kg to 36 kg (from 9 months to 12 years)
• Group 2/3: 15 kg to 36 kg (from 4 years to 12 years)
• Group 3: 22 kg to 36 kg (from 5 or 6 years and taller than 125 cm)

Weight-based seats can be installed using ISOFIX mountings or a diagonal seat belt strap. However, they do not have to pass a side-impact crash test as part of their approval process.

Key Differences

Height-based seats are a newer standard, introduced in 2013, and are considered safer due to the reduced risk of incorrect installation and the inclusion of a side-impact crash test in their approval process. On the other hand, weight-based seats are an older regulation but are still legal to use.

When choosing a car seat, it is important to consider the child's weight and height as the most important factors. The restraint system must support the child's weight and offer maximum safety. It is recommended to keep children in a rear-facing seat for as long as possible, as it provides better protection in the event of a crash.

Exemptions to the law

In the UK, children must use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first. After that, they can use a normal seat belt. However, there are some exemptions to this law:

Taxis and Minicabs

If a licensed taxi or minicab does not have a child car seat, children under 3 can travel without a seat belt on the back seat. Children over 3 can travel in the back seat with an adult seat belt. In this case, the child must travel in the rear and wear an adult seat belt if they are over 3 years old.

Minibuses, Coaches, and Vans

Minibus or coach drivers and companies are not required to provide child car seats. If a child car seat or adult seat belt is unavailable, children can travel without them. All children must travel in rear seats if a child car seat or adult seat belt is not fitted. If a child car seat is unavailable or unsuitable, children aged 3 or older must use an adult seat belt. The rules for vans are the same as for cars.

Unexpected Journeys

A child aged 3 or older may use an adult seat belt if making an unexpected but necessary journey over a short distance. This does not apply to regular journeys such as the school run.

No Room for a Third Child Seat

If there is no room for a third child seat in the back seat, a child under 3 can travel in the front seat with the correct child seat. Children over 3 can sit in the back using an adult seat belt.

Children with Disabilities or Medical Conditions

The same rules apply to children with disabilities or medical conditions, but they can use a disabled person's seat belt or a child restraint designed for their needs. A doctor can issue an exemption certificate if a child is unable to use a restraint or seat belt due to their condition.

Child car seat installation

In the UK, child car seats have been a legal requirement since 2006. The law states that a child must use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first. Children over 12 years old or taller than 135 cm must wear a seat belt. Here is a comprehensive guide to child car seat installation:

Choosing the Right Child Car Seat

It is important to select a child car seat that is suitable for your child's height and weight. Height-based seats are known as 'i-Size' seats and must be rear-facing until the child is over 15 months old. Weight-based seats offer a range of options: 0-10 kg or 0-13 kg, 9-18 kg, 15-25 kg, and 22-36 kg. Only EU-approved seats can be used in the UK, look out for the 'E' label.

Installation with a Seat Belt

Read the manuals for both your car seat and your vehicle carefully. Place the car seat base in the back seat of your vehicle and thread the seat belt through the rear-facing belt path, ensuring there are no twists. Buckle the seat belt and press down on the base to tighten it, ensuring it does not move more than 1 inch in any direction. Adjust the recline angle as per the manufacturer's instructions.

Installation with Lower Anchors

Again, read the manuals carefully and pay attention to the location of the lower anchors. Place the car seat base in the back seat and connect the lower anchor attachments, ensuring the straps are not twisted. Press down and tighten the straps, making sure the base does not move more than 1 inch in any direction. Adjust the recline angle as needed.

Securing Your Child in the Car Seat

Place your child in the seat with their back flat against it. Put the harness straps over their shoulders, ensuring they lie flat and are not twisted. Buckle the harness and chest clip, tightening until snug. Place the chest clip at armpit level. Bulky clothing or blankets can affect the fit, so it is recommended to buckle the baby first and then cover them. If your baby needs support, use small, rolled blankets on each side.

Additional Considerations

• Never put thick padding under or behind the baby unless recommended by the manufacturer.
• If there is a gap between the buckle and your child's groin, try placing a rolled washcloth or diaper in the space.
• As your child grows, you may need to adjust the recline angle.
• Always deactivate front airbags when fitting a rear-facing baby seat in the front seat.
• Do not install a child car seat in side-facing seats.

Child car seat history

The history of child car seats is a surprisingly long one, stretching back to the early days of the automobile. Initially, child seats were nothing more than burlap sacks with a drawstring that hung over the headrest of the passenger seat, designed to simply lift the child up so they could look out of the window. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that it took around 30 years for car seats to be considered as safety devices.

In the 1930s, the Bunny Bear Company produced a seat that was essentially a booster seat, propping children up so their parents could keep an eye on them. In the 1940s, manufacturers released canvas seats on a metal frame that attached to the car's front seat, allowing children to see out of the windshield and featuring a play steering wheel to keep them occupied. However, it wasn't until the 1950s that occupant safety began to be taken more seriously, with the introduction of the 3-point seat belt in 1959.

The first car seats designed with safety in mind appeared in 1962, thanks to two inventors: Jean Helen Ames, a British mother and journalist, and Leonard Rivkin, a retired civil engineer. Ames is credited with being the first to suggest safety seats for children and designed a rear-facing seat with a Y-belt to restrain the child in the event of a crash. Rivkin, whose design was inspired by a car accident involving his family, created a seat with an iron-framed booster seat and a five-point harness system.

In 1964, Swedish professor Bertil Aldman recognised the protective effects of rear-facing car seats after watching a TV programme showing the position of astronauts in the Gemini space capsule. Aldman designed the first rear-facing car seat, and his research led to Sweden setting the "T-standard", which was so stringent that forward-facing seats struggled to pass. This began the tradition of Swedish children travelling in rear-facing car seats until the age of four, which continues to this day.

By 1968, car manufacturers had begun developing the first car seats designed for crash protection, including the Tot-Guard by Ford and the Love Seat for Toddlers by General Motors. In 1971, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration adopted the first federal standards for car seats, requiring the use of a safety belt to hold the seat in place and a harness to restrain the child.

In 1979, Tennessee introduced the first child restraint law, and by 1985, all US states had passed laws requiring the use of car seats. However, it wasn't until 2006 that laws were introduced in the UK requiring children to use special car seats. Today, UK law states that children must use a car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 cm tall, and only EU-approved car seats can be used.

Frequently asked questions